Whitsunday

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌhwɪtˈsʌndɪ/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(hwit′sun′dā, -dē, wit′-; hwit′sən dā′, wit′-)



WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
Whit•sun•day  (hwit′sun′dā, -dē, wit′-; hwit′sən dā′, wit′-),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. the seventh Sunday after Easter, celebrated as a festival in commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
  • bef. 1100; Middle English whitsonenday, Old English Hwīta Sunnandæg white Sunday; probably so called because the newly baptized wore white robes on that day

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Whitsunday / ˌhwɪtˈsʌndɪ ˌwɪt-/
  1. (in Scotland) May 15, one of the four quarter days
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Whit Sunday
  1. the seventh Sunday after Easter, observed as a feast in commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles 50 days after Easter
    Also called: Pentecost
Etymology: Old English hwīta sunnandæg white Sunday, probably named after the ancient custom of wearing white robes at or after baptism
'Whitsunday' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Ember day - Expectation Sunday - Expectation Week - Pentecost - Whit Week - Whitmonday - Whitsun - Whitsuntide - Whittuesday - quarter day

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